Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court has refused to call the traditional definition of marriage unconstitutional. This spineless government appeal has backfired: the Liberals cannot claim the court made them end traditional marriage.

Marriage is a matter for Parliament, not judges.

It has nothing to do with the charter. This government could have endeavoured to defend the traditional definition of marriage by challenging lower court decisions, but it did not. Instead, the Liberals are attacking Canadian family values.

I firmly believe that Canada's laws and social programs should strive to support and uphold marriage and the family unit. The traditional definition of marriage must be preserved.

The union of a man and a woman is the most enduring human institution. Altering it is a profound step that deserves vigorous, open debate. This is a matter for elected representatives to decide.

My party will have a free vote on any government legislation. I call upon the Prime Minister to allow all of his MPs, including members of--

Mr. Speaker, this Christmas season has already been great throughout Dartmouth and Cole Harbour.

In particular, the revived Dartmouth downtown has been the centre of much excitement. Last weekend, for instance, over 4,000 people crowded around Sullivan's Pond to see the inaugural lighting of the downtown trees. Last Sunday, Christmas Full of Caring, which raises money for the homeless, held its phenomenal 10th annual dinner.

As well, yesterday Dartmouth celebrated the life of Joseph Howe with the naming of a park in his honour, a fitting tribute to the father of responsible government in Canada.

Dartmouth--Cole Harbour is also the home of another famous person, Mike Clattenburg, the creator and producer of the Trailer Park Boys , a show that is also filmed in Cole Harbour. This past Sunday we saw the show's very touching Christmas special, an episode which I am sure has special meaning for us all.

On September 23, the Chronicle-Herald had a headline that read, “Downtown Dartmouth Comes Alive”. This is absolutely true. We will continue to work to ensure its continued success.

Finally, I wish all my constituents the very best of the holiday season.

Mr. Speaker, the government is telling us that the millennium fund was well managed. In that case, can it tell us why all requests for financing had to go through Alfonso Gagliano's office first? Why did the minister's office not keep any record whatsoever of correspondence? Why would his chief of staff clearly insist that his staff not keep any correspondence. Why was nothing ever sent to departmental staff? Finally, why did an audit report that cost $500,000 disappear?

There are numerous similarities with the management of the sponsorship program. The government, which promoted transparency, owes us some answers. I would remind the Minister of Public Works that even if the program no longer exists, clarification is needed. Where did the $150 million in the millennium fund go?

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Greater Toronto Airport Authority for recent efforts to prevent illegal taxis from stealing business at Pearson International Airport.

For several years Transport Canada and the airport were seriously neglectful of their obligations to protect the taxi and limousine licences they sold to drivers at the airport.

Rogue taxi drivers, who are called scoopers, were routinely stealing fares and operating illegally, exposing travellers to fare gouging and risks to safety from unregulated drivers and cars.

The new enforcement initiative was supported by officials from the federal Department of Transport and also by officials from the Province of Ontario who are now also developing provincial laws and procedures to support this new initiative.

In addition to eradicating illegal taxi scoopers, the GTAA is reforming its taxi and limo permit system to allow more independent taxis and a new group of licensed limousines. I have been an advocate of these changes for 12 years now and I applaud the progress that has been made.

Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise to honour Edmonton's Bill Comrie, who was recently named the Canadian entrepreneur of the year.

Mr. Comrie is well known as the founder of The Brick, an Edmonton based furniture retailer. The Brick started as one store and is now the largest furniture retailer in Canada with more than 165 stores and over 5,000 employees.

Edmontonians also know Mr. Comrie as a tireless booster of our city, a dedicated philanthropist and a key supporter of the Stollery Children's Hospital and the Alberta Heart Institute.

Mr. Comrie also supports minor sports, especially hockey. Every year he hosts The Brick novice hockey tournament, which is the largest in the world for 9 year olds and 10 year olds.

We have come to realize that whatever Mr. Comrie does. he does well.

On my behalf and on behalf of the member for Edmonton—Leduc, I with to congratulate Bill Comrie and his family on his recent award and thank him for all the good work he does for Edmonton, for Alberta and for Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Thunder Bay resident Admiral Raymond Zuliani on his long and valued service to the Canadian Forces Reserves.

Admiral Zuliani was appointed Chief of Reserves and Cadets in 2000 and represents 27,000 reservists and 56,000 cadets. The reserves constitute 45% of Canada's military forces.

Among his achievements are the implementation of a pension plan for reservists and the protection of civilian jobs for reservists called to duty. He also assured education funds for reservists who attend post-secondary programs.

Admiral Zuliani joined the Canadian Forces cadets at the age of 12, moved to the reserves at the age of 16, and over the past 40 years has dedicated his life to the defence needs of our country while maintaining a full time career as an educator.

Admiral Zuliani will retire from the reserves in January. I invite my fellow parliamentarians to join me in thanking him for his exceptional service and wishing him a happy and healthy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to Godeliève Mukasarasi, the recipient of the prestigious John Humphrey Freedom Award.

This African woman, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, has been working to promote the rights of women in her country for many years.

She has shown exceptional commitment in working with women who were victims of rape and sexual violence during the 1994 genocide.

She played a key role in breaking the silence and documenting crimes of sexual violence for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Thanks to her contribution, for the first time, on October 2, 1998, an international court convicted an individual of a crime of sexual violence perpetrated during a civil war and rape was recognized as an act of genocide and torture.

The Bloc Québécois salutes the exceptional courage of Godeliève Mukasarasi in her struggle to obtain justice and reparations for the women of her country.

Mr. Speaker, people in my riding of Bramalea—Gore—Malton and across Canada are mourning the tragic death of Aysegul Candir, an ESL teacher at Bramalea Secondary School who was the victim of an alleged domestic violence shooting in the school parking lot on Friday, December 10.

I am deeply saddened by this tragic event and by the loss of a very special teacher. Candir had been teaching English as a second language at Bramalea since September 2002. According to Principal John Chasty, she was totally dedicated to her students and understood the challenges they faced as newcomers to Canada because she had first-hand experience.

I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Candir's family in Turkey. I thank everyone who has sent messages of sympathy in the wake of this tragic event. This tragic incident highlights the need to put an end to domestic violence.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise today, the last sitting day before the Christmas break, to pay tribute to a Kamloops tradition.

The Christmas Light Tour is the highlight of the season for many Kamloops seniors. Volunteers pick them up at various residences and drive them around the city in comfortable coaches to look at the spectacular lights. The Kamloops residents go above and beyond to decorate for the holiday season, knowing that the seniors will be driving by.

It is a truly magical evening for everyone involved. I look forward to being a part of it once again this year. It is often said, but it is well worth repeating, that volunteers are the backbone of this nation. I thank them for their time and efforts in organizing this event.

I would also like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to wish you and all of my colleagues in the House a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Mr. Speaker, Canada was the first western country to recognize Ukraine's independence 13 years ago. Today we are building on that history.

Canadian Friends of Ukraine, a Canadian NGO, is working to promote democracy and reform in Ukraine. I ask every member of the House to show their support for the Canadian Friends of Ukraine and the Ukrainian congress in assisting democratic striving for the people of Ukraine.

Members of the House have unanimously declared their solidarity with the democratic aspirations of the people of Ukraine, so that the December 26, 2004 repeat presidential elections take place in an environment free of media censorship, intimidation and foreign intervention.

The take note debate and the motion in the House supported by all parties have demonstrated our support for free, fair and transparent presidential elections in Ukraine to be held on December 26.

We wish the Ukrainian people all the best in their journey toward democratic reform. Slava Ukraina .

Mr. Speaker, Parksville on Vancouver Island is a city of some 10,000 people. This week a local Baptist church will attract more than 10,000 people to a four day special Christmas event.

There are shepherds and lots of real, fluffy sheep. There are donkeys and chickens and a stable scene with a real newborn baby.

Reproduced are the shops, smells and sounds of the historic, dimly lit streets of Bethlehem. More than 200 people are dressed in period costume as Roman soldiers, blacksmiths, candle makers and fish mongers. There is a period bakery producing Dead Sea rolls. There is Sotheby's auction house where people can bid on Goliath's sword or Moses' staff, which still turns into a serpent when it is thrown down on the floor.

Afterward there are cookies, hot chocolate and Christmas carols.

It is all in good fun and sets the stage to help the less fortunate. Last year the Bethlehem Walk raised more than $10,000, all given to the Society of Organized Services to help needy families.

It is the spirit of giving. It is the Christmas story. It is light coming into darkness. It is joy to the world, peace and goodwill.

Mr. Speaker, about a year ago, the Denim Swift company in Drummondville announced that it was laying off more than 600 employees.

Yesterday, six textile plants in the town of Huntingdon announced their imminent closure, and more than 800 workers found out, just days before Christmas, that they will be losing their jobs.

Rather than sitting idly, the federal government has an opportunity to ensure that import tariffs on clothing and textile products are maintained in Canada. It can also continue to remit customs duties paid by clothing companies and to maintain a quota on Chinese imports, under the WTO access protocol for China.

The government can also develop a program to help modernize the clothing and textile industries by stimulating research, development and creation. Finally, it could establish a program to help older workers who will not have a job to go back to.

There are many solutions available. The only thing that is lacking is a will to act on the part of the federal government.

'Twas the night before the break, and all through the Nation,The citizens had decided, the Liberals deserved no ovation.The immigration requests were hung by her office with care,In hopes that St. Judy soon would be there.Her staffers were nestled all snug in their chairs,While Romanian dancers showed off their wares.And Martin in his confusion, and his MPs on the take,The Liberals had settled down for a long winter's break.When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,It turns out, to the people, honesty does matter.With one minister sinking, Paul must act in a flash,But dithering is his forté, God forbid he be brash.When Gagliano was to Chrétien, a serious bane,He was shuffled out of cabinet to the land of the Dane.Everyone is demanding Paul act with conviction,For if he does not, integrity is just Liberal fiction.A quick dismissal of the minister will stop opposition grilling,But where to put Judy, as the Danish position no longer needs filling?What country's ambassadorship can we to Ms. Sgro?To you Paul, I say, “How about Trinidad and Tobago?”

Mr. Speaker, it brings me great pleasure to rise in the House today to bring news of a wonderful program in my vibrant riding of Thornhill.

The Kids Come First Child Care Centre in Vaughn was recently recognized for its excellence and innovation among non-profit agencies at the community level. It received one of the nine Donner Canadian Foundation Awards for Excellence in the Delivery of Social Services.

The centre was founded in 1991 and currently has over 300 registered students. The education centre was recognized for its amazing child care program.

In the past year Kids Come First has donated over 70,000 pounds of clothing and toys to many northern aboriginal communities within the province and across the country.

It is organizations like this one that look beyond themselves, thereby strengthening the Canadian identity. Bravo.

Mr. Speaker, this is the last day the House will sit before Christmas. My family and I wish to convey our best wishes for the season to the Prime Minister and his family, but before I do so, I have other business.

Canadian children can only hope that Santa Claus is better and more able and willing to fulfill his promises than is the Prime Minister. During the election he promised a universal national child care program for all Canadian children and later it became more precisely the creation of a limited number of spaces.

Whatever it is, could the Prime Minister tell us on what date he will be implementing his child care proposals?

Mr. Speaker, let me reciprocate by wishing to the Leader of the Opposition and his family, and to all members of the opposition, to the leader of the Bloc, to members of the Bloc, to the leader of the NDP and to his party, and most certainly to all of the people on this side of the House, a very merry Christmas, a happy new year and best wishes for the holidays.

To respond to the hon. member's question, the negotiations are underway with the provinces, as the Leader of the Opposition might know. I can assure the hon. member that we will fulfill all of our obligations because it is a commitment that we feel is very important for the families of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I was worried when I did that, that I would give the Prime Minister the opportunity to talk about something other than his precise plans.

The Prime Minister also promised a national infrastructure program for cities. Gas tax revenues, he said, would be shared with the cities without delay or equivocation. Yet cities, provinces, municipalities, whatever, have not seen a cent in gas taxes.

Could the Prime Minister tell us on this one, on what date he plans to implement his policy?

Mr. Speaker, once again I want to thank the hon. member for giving me the chance to really speak about the government's program. The fact is that the minister involved has made substantial progress in discussing it with the cities, municipalities and communities. We have been discussing it with the provinces. Those discussions are ongoing and we are very much on schedule.

I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition giving me this opportunity to say just how we are changing the face of Canada for the better.

Mr. Speaker, I think I heard at least one person who did not believe it.

Six months ago the Prime Minister promised 100% of the offshore to Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. The provinces of course are still waiting for him to keep his word, so once again, will the Prime Minister tell us what date he has in mind for actually signing a deal?

Mr. Speaker, once again the negotiations are underway. What I am very pleased to say, and I say this on behalf of the Minister of Finance, is that the proposition that is being debated, that the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia are looking for, is infinitely superior to the one that was put by the Leader of the Opposition. In fact the Leader of the Opposition was actually going to cut equalization in Nova Scotia. We on the other hand have increased equalization for all the recipient provinces.

Mr. Speaker, as I listen to the Prime Minister, I am reminded of my lawyer who told me that the less he has to say, the more he talks.

The Prime Minister had promised to increase the size of the Canadian armed forces by 5,000 personnel. Now, the vice chief of the defence staff is saying that it will take several years to achieve that objective.

By what date can our armed forces expect the promised recruitment process to be completed?

Mr. Speaker, once again, as with all the other options put forward by the Leader of the Opposition, we are keeping our promises, and we will do so in accordance with the timeframes set during the election campaign. The same goes for national defence.

Indeed, it will take more money. That is why we intend to increase the funds allocated to the Department of National Defence.

Mr. Speaker, I am listening very carefully but I am not hearing any dates in any of the replies.

The Prime Minister promised that in his era, scandal would be ancient history, but the immigration minister is up to her neck in enough scandals for the entire cabinet alone. Since I am in a rather charitable mood, I will not get into the latest today, but could the Prime Minister tell us with certainty that the immigration minister will still be in her post when the House returns?